Union head Kumlu stays in post

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Mustafa Kumlu. AA photo

Turkey’s largest labor organization chairman Mustafa Kumlu was re-elected for a second four-year term yesterday after winning the support of 223 out of 362 delegates who voted.

“It is clear that the government’s attacks on labor will continue in the upcoming term and it may prove to be even harder than before,” said Kumlu during his thank-you speech following his big win after the four-day assembly.

“Members of Türk-İş must unite and work together to overcome these challenges,” he added.
Running against Kumlu was Mustafa Öztaşkın, head of the Petroleum and Chemistry Workers’ Union (Petrol-İş).

Ten out of 35 trade unions that form Türk-İş had joined forces to nominate and support Öztaşkın, who fell short to win the chair with 127 votes.

The convention opened amid criticism against Kumlu on grounds that he had put up little resistance against government policies curbing labor rights, as well as protests against guest speaker deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ that led to a major brawl during the first day of meetings.